Judging Criteria

While GSVC is unable to technically "invest" in ventures entering the Competition, the panel of judges will consider themselves a panel of investors, and reward the Prizes to ventures in which they would most likely invest given the GSVC judging criteria - which will serve as a proxy for investment criteria. Entrants will be exposed to potential investors through the GSVC network.

The judging criteria includes:

  • Financial Return on Investment: rigor and feasibility of the venture's financial models and goals.

  • Social Impact Assessment: venture's potential to meet its social goals, and the venture's potential social impact.

  • Feasibility of business model: feasibility of the business model, given the market opportunity and the venture.

  • Fundability: potential for the venture to receive additional financial support (co-investment) given the opportunities in current capital markets (including opportunities for funding from foundations, social venture funds, angel investors, and venture capitalists).

  • Scalability: This criterion will be unique for each business plan. Scalability will take into account the potential for growth or replicability of the business (and how well both the financial and social goals can be scaled).

  • Management Team: strength of the company's management team, including the team's experience and training in relevant industries and issue areas. While management teams must include at least one current graduate student or recently graduated student (within 2 years), teams are strongly encouraged to include seasoned professionals and entrepreneurs. See our matchmaker section to find teams and individuals looking for a match.
  • Integration of the social and financial missions: the integration of the financial and social goals - functionally and organizationally.

Financial Return on Investment

  • Financial viability
  • Rigor and validity of FROI calculation

Social Impact Assessment

  • Reach, depth and quality of social impact
  • Rigor and validity of SIA calculation
  • Proposal for implementing social impact metrics

(For information on how to calculate SROI, see the Social Impact Guides section)

Feasibility of business model

  • Market opportunity
  • Analysis of competitors, suppliers, buyers, & barriers to entry
  • Market entry strategy
  • Operations plan

Fundability

  • Potential for follow-on funding to grow the venture through self-sufficiency or profitability, given current market and capital trends

Scalability

  • Market size and growth opportunity
  • Potential for business model to be replicated or scaled up (including scalability or both the financial and social goals.)

Management Team

  • Depth of relevant industry/issue experience
  • Evidence of previous training in management, leadership, sales, technology, and industry specific skills
  • Previous work experience

Integration of business and social missions

  • Functionally integrated
  • Organizational structure addresses both financial and social goals